Cultural Organizing Weekend in New Orleans, Louisiana

A workshop

Topics:
Regional , Southeast , Community / Regional Development , Multi / Inter-disciplinary , Alliance / Movement / Field Building , Leadership and Skill Development


The Cultural Organizing Weekend Workshop in New Orleans, Louisiana, provided a space where artists, activists and organizers learned effective ways to deepen their work and increase their impact by activating the tools of creativity and imagination.  By using a combination of local and national resources, the workshops also promoted networking and collaboration.

Cultural Organizing Weekend Workshop in New Orleans, Louisiana 
Arts & Democracy Project in collaboration with Junebug Productions and Urban Bush Women
February 22-24, 2013
New Orleans, LA

Agenda:  

Friday, February 22, 6-9pm
Golden Feather, 704 N Rampart Street


Dinner & Dialogue: Definitions & Approaches to Cultural Organizing
Moderators: John O’Neal and Wendi O’Neal
Presenters: Stephanie McKee (Junebug Productions), Marquez Rhyne (Highlander Center’s Zilphia Horton Project), Kristin Evans (Louisiana Bucket Brigade)
Respondents: Kimberly Richards (Peoples’ Institute for Survival and Beyond), Austin Smith & Breial Kennedy (American Friends Service Committee)

Saturday. February 23, 9:30am­ - 5pm
Zeitgeist Gallery, 1618 O.C. Haley Blvd

9:30-10:00    Gathering, registration & coffee

10:00-10:30  Welcome, Context & Logistics

10:30-12:30  Introductions, Reflections & Dialogue, Framework

12:30-1:30    Lunch on site

1:30­-4:00     Close Encounters  (small groups): CHOOSE ONE

  • LA Bucket Brigade‘s Art to Action program offers creative actions to shift the narrative ofpollution. Come make a scene with Kristen Evans and Joseph Furnari.
  • Media Policy and Practice: amalia deloney (Center for Media Justice) joins Trupania Bonner (Moving Forward Gulf Coast), focusing on art­based strategies and tools for legislative action and policy shifts.
  • Power of Story: Michael Premo (Housing is a Human Right) joins Kiyoko McRae (Junebug Productions) to share the story circle technique and other approaches to hearing, collecting and responsibly using people’s stories.
  • Collaboration Lab: Urban Bush Women (UBW) facilitates artistic creation based on themes that emerge from the group. Through the Collaboration Lab, participants create an artistic product reflecting both their learning and their vision for community.


4:15­-5:00       Group sharing and reflections

6-10pm          Red Linen Night, a hallmark NOLA cultural gathering & fundraiser optional
Ashé Cultural Arts Center, 1724 OC Haley Blvd
($20 ticket includes finger food, one free drink & entertainment)

 

Sunday, February 24, 2-5pm
Ashé Cultural Arts Center, 1724 OC Haley Blvd

2:00-3:00       Introductions & Networking

3:00-5:00       Sharing & Conversation about cultural organizing within a labor context
Moderator: Michelle Miller (co­worker.org)
Presenters: Marquez Rhyne (Highlander Center), Jayeesha Dutta (SEIU Local 21); Javiera Benavente and Andrea Assaf (Arts & Democracy Project)



This weekend was made possible with funding from Nathan Cummings Foundation, and in­-kind support from Junebug Productions, Ashé Cultural Arts Center, Highlander Center for Research and Education, Urban Bush Women & Golden Feather.  The workshop was coordinated by Kathie deNobriga and Stephanie McKee, with planning support from Jayeesha Dutta, Ahmané Glover & Wendi O’Neal, with Javiera Benavente, Maria Bauman and Marquez Rhyne.